“It’s almost like the earth stood still”

This chapter examines a number of essays produced by a group of students to describe their experiences of living without their cell phones for a period of nine days. The essays were a bonus assignment in an undergraduate class, written voluntarily by these students to improve their standing in the course. They proved to be some of the best work these students produced during the term, offering unique insight into the manner in which their cell phones and the social media platforms they support affect their lives and what they think and feel about it.